The science is clear
Our brains grow faster between the ages of 0 and 3 than at any other point in life. Those first few years lay the foundation for the rest of a child’s life, affecting everything from classroom performance, to earning potential, to life expectancy.
An investment in babies is an investment in our future.
Each year, more than 102,000 new babies are born in New Jersey. They are our future workers, parents, and leaders. Everyone has a role in building a strong foundation for the healthy development of all babies in New Jersey. Ensuring proven policies and programs for babies and their families are funded, results in a significant return on investment.
About the Campaign
Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) is leading a statewide effort to ensure that our state’s leaders Think Babies™ ‐ our future depends on it! With the support of our Think Babies coalition partners, we’re puttng “birth‐to‐3” on the public agenda and bringing attention to what infants and toddlers need to thrive: strong families, healthy starts and positive learning environments.
As a state grantee of the national ZERO TO THREE Think Babies™ campaign, a grantee of the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, and a lead partner in New Jersey’s #ReimagineChildCare campaign, ACNJ is working on a vision and action plan to unlock the potential of every child in New Jersey to grow up healthy, safe and educated. Read A Roadmap to Making New Jersey the Safest, Healthiest and Most Supportive Place to Give Birth and Raise a Family
Partnerships and coalition-building is key to successful outcomes for children and families. New Jersey began its partnership with The Nicholson Foundation, the Turrell Fund and the Caucus Educational Fund in 2017 to launch Right From The Start NJ (RFTSNJ). This public awareness and advocacy campaign is aimed at promoting enriching early experiences and a strong foundation for development, right from the start. Not long after launching RFTSNJ, ACNJ was chosen to lead the statewide effort as one of six states selected for the national Think Babies campaign. Created by ZERO TO THREE, the goal of the Think Babies campaign is to to make the potential of every baby our national priority.
Whether advancing better policies or improving programs, partnerships among stakeholders are key to securing effective change. Led by ACNJ, the New Jersey Think Babies Coalition consists of more than 60 early childhood stakeholders in both private and public sectors, representing the collective voices of children and parents in New Jersey, and state officials who provide guidance and data. Coalition members support the campaign’s efforts to make babies a state priority with recommendations, outreach and communications.
We’re grateful for the work of all of our campaign partners on this critical effort.
Affordable, Quality Child Care
Ensure every family has access to quality, affordable child care for their infants and toddlers, providing a strong foundation for early learning.
Family Support through Home Visitation
Provide expectant parents and parents of young children essential supports to help nurture positive parent-child relationships and overall health and well-being.
Healthy Social-Emotional Development
Much like physical development, it is important to foster a baby’s social and emotional health by ensuring resources and services are available to address their mental health.
Maternal and Infant Health
Ensure all mothers and their babies have equitable access to prenatal and postnatal care and resources that support a healthy pregnancy, birth and start in life.
Paid Family Leave
Ensure all mothers and their babies have equitable access to prenatal and postnatal care and resources that support a healthy pregnancy, birth and start in life.
Latest Updates
Campaign partners helping to make New Jersey babies a state priority!